EVANSTON — In a home nestled in the center of Evanston, a family said they recently fell victim to mail theft. 

“I was just standing, looking out my picture window when I saw a white vehicle drive up,” said a woman who asked not to be named because the incident is under investigation. “Someone got out and took the mail right out of our box out front.”

The family said they were shocked by the brazen nature of the alleged crime. 

When asked if he was surprised that this kind of blatant theft had occurred among the quiet streets of Evanston, Lt. Ken Pearson said, “No, not at all.” 

After saying they witnessed the crime in broad daylight, the family contacted the post office to see what could be done to recover their outgoing mail. The post office told them that in recent months “people have thought they were missing mail.”

The suspect was described as a blonde woman, driving a white truck with a small dog in the passenger seat.

“Mail is an easy target” said Pearson. 

To avoid falling victim to this form of theft, the police department suggest that locals know when their mail shows up and that they quickly collect it. If recipients are able to, the police department says that the best way to ensure your mail’s security is to rent a mailbox at your local post office or to have a locking mail box.  

Reminding residents that Evanston’s sometimes sleepy streets are not always crime free, Pearson said, “Everything happens in Evanston.” 

He went on to reiterate that “every crime that happens in a big city also happens in Evanston, just less frequently.” 

This Evanston family hopes that their misfortune will serve as a sufficient warning to others who are susceptible to this simply crime.